A Warning [Shortly after liminal change]

[itsananimalthing]

Hey. So noticed somethin' a little off about the tea-rivers or whatever they are. They're in a particular pattern. Pretty much exactly the same pattern as a little town on Earth we went to that almost got us all eaten by tentacle shit-heads.

Think we might need to prep some eldritch defense and memory restoration and shit, if we're goin' back to fuckin' Harrogate. I got both, in case anybody was wonderin' or wanted someone to hit them up with either one once Jaunt gets goin'.

Comments

[itsananimalthing]

Since I don't know shit about your world, I wouldn't know. They're big tentacle monsters who like to eat worlds and drive people insane. Or the one we met was all about tentacles, could be others aren't so much. Hard to fight cuz they're a lot bigger presences than we are, but mostly need help to get around in our dimension.

[naturaltwohands]

Joy of joys.

Tentacles--the only two beings I know of that have them that I have encountered or heard of in great detail are Illithids, Mind-flayers, and handmaidens of Lolth.

The first are a communal race of beings that prefer mental communication. They can make people into willing slaves, can knock them out with cones of mental energy, and can attack the mind with horrific images until they drive their victim insane or gain access to the information they wish. Their tentacles can also dig into someone's brain and allow them to consume it.

Handmaidens I have only seen in books, but they are capable of strong illusions and other powers one would imagine a handmaiden of an evil goddess would possess.

If these creatures are anything like either....

[Drizzt is worried about those who are more "normal". He's certain he can deal with it to some extent, but others....]

[itsananimalthing]

Worse than both. These things are on the level where one of 'em took over liminal space and knocked out our network. So, think one of those, only with Trump-level power.

[naturaltwohands]

So Lolth herself, then, is the equivalent. In other words, gods, or nearly so. Beings that could be the doom of us all. Why would the Arcana risk everything to return? It seems even more dangerous in that they know somewhat of our existence.

[So. Much. Dread.]

[itsananimalthing]

If they're workin' through human intermediaries, we stop those. That's the plan, keep 'em from being summoned in the first place. If they're already there, we're pretty much fucked. Though maybe havin' a couple dozen of us with protections will be enough to hold one off, who knows.

[naturaltwohands]

If they are anything like demons, then I have weapons that can banish them and send them back to the plane of hell they came from. Magical weapons--scimitars. I will make sure they are accessible even if I Infiltrate. If they are even more like the demons of my world, they will be banished for a century, but I would not put any stock in such hopes. Attacking them might even be too much.

But from what I have heard from you and the others--I doubt the weapons will make much of a difference if they are already there.

[itsananimalthing]

Bring your weapons by the forge and I can take a look. Who knows, it might help. Doubt it'll banish anything for any amount of time, but it might make 'em back off or hurt them.

[naturaltwohands]

I will be there shortly.

Icingdeath banished Errtu, an incredibly powerful demon. Twice. It might be our best chance if all else fails, even if that chance is barely any chance at all.

[itsananimalthing]

Icingdeath? Did you fuckin' name your swords?

[He's not sure if he's disgusted or amused. Or maybe both.]

Drizzt sounds like a D&D nerd right now. I'm dying.

[naturaltwohands]

It was fitting for it to have one. Magical weapons have names in our world. It's much easier to say "IcingDeath" rather than "the frostband weapon with the black adamantite handle and silver blade with diamond edge that was discovered in the lair of the now slain dragon, IcingDeath". It's a unique weapon, hence, it should have a unique name. Some weapons even are sentient, although IcingDeath is not.

You wouldn't give a name to a normal, magicless item or an item with only a common set of enchantments, of course. That would just be silly. Even so, some still name an item if its shape is uniquely crafted... or if they're simply so full of themselves that they think their weapon deserves a name when it rightfully does not.

For example, my other Scimitar is named Twinkle because it has unique properties. However, my armor and bracers are not unique, even if they have magical properties, so they are nameless.

[TL;DR: blah blah blah unique weapons have names blah blah his other scimitar is named Twinkle.]

[itsananimalthing]

[He doesn't sound impressed. Then again, this is the guy who didn't even name his various pets.]

It's a fuckin' tool, kid. Call it a magic sword, and fill in the rest of that shit if somebody asks, cuz I promise you nobody cares.

[naturaltwohands]

[Drizzt is surprised into silence for a very long moment. He somehow manages a laugh.]

I see your weapons will never serve as simple adornment on a wall for the embellishment of a story. That I can appreciate. For many, the name carries too much weight.

Still, I find it useful to only need one word to describe what I am speaking of to a companion, especially in battle. Simply saying one word and a gesture can be enough to not only gain the attention of that companion but for them to understand your plan in an instant. To that end, the name itself is a tool.

[itsananimalthing]

Still don't see how you can't say "my sword" and that's good enough. Don't see how saying "IcingDeath" is enough for anybody to understand a whole plan.

[It doesn't help that the name is just so dumb.]

[naturaltwohands]

It only works if they know of the weapon's properties.

If a companion needs to jump into fire, they can simply yell "IcingDeath" to me, and I will know they need to use my blade to be immune to it. If I need cover or need an enemy to be struck from what they think it is a safe hiding place, I can shout "Taulmaril" while pointing and Catti-brie would use shoot at them with a powerful arrow. If we are walking and not in a fight, I can simply say "Twinkle", and they will know the blade has detected danger. If we need a blade that can cut through nearly anything, saying "Khazid'hea" and pointing at the object makes the intent clear. Aegis-Fang means to either bash or throw the war hammer. It allows us to clearly communicate our intent without our enemy knowing the ability of the weapon until after it is too late.

It only works because we are close companions that have fought many battles, even wars, together. Otherwise, the names would be worthless.

[Yeah, well.]